Accountability is a result of leadership and management, not a technique

Executive overview

You cannot hold people accountable directly. Accountability is the output of doing leadership and management well — not something imposed on others.

Great leaders and managers each have five distinct practices. Do all ten and accountability follows naturally.

The five leadership practices

• Give clear direction
• Provide the tools people need to do their jobs
• Delegate and trust — letting go of the vine
• Act with the greater good in mind
• Take time for reflection and planning — clarity breaks

The five management practices

• Keep expectations clear
• Communicate well
• Maintain the right meeting cadence — meeting pulse
• Hold casual quarterly conversations to review what's working and what's not
• Reward and recognise team members appropriately